Bishnupur was the capital of the Hindu Mallabhum kingdom, which was founded in the 8th century ce and was once the most important Hindu dynasty in Bengal. It was constituted a municipality in 1863. The town is surrounded by old fortifications and has more than a dozen temples.

When you are in Bishnupur, this one pinnacled ‘Bishnu’ temple is a must see. Certainly, the temple is one of the main structural forms carrying the message of finest terracotta art in its body. Malla Raja Durjan Singh Dev established the temple in the name of Lord Madan Mohan in 1694.

The Bishnupur temple complex consists of 20 temples. The first of these, the Mrinmayee Temple, was built in 997 CE by King Jagat Malla. The temples of Bishnupur reflect the local architecture of Bengal and most of them were built between 1622 CE and 1758 CE.

The architectural style of the Bishnupur temples, however, derived from the tradition that had developed under the sultanates that had ruled Bengal for the previous four centuries—interior vaulting, pointed arches with cusps, sturdy pillars with many facets, curved cornices, and terracotta decoration (McCutchion 1972)